SafePlants

Yellow Rocket (Barbarea vulgaris)

Yellow rocket, scientifically known as Barbarea vulgaris, is a common plant found in various environments. It belongs to the Mustard family and has a history of both being considered a weed and being cultivated as an edible plant.

Common Names

• Yellow Rocket
• Winter Cress
• Garden Yellowrocket
• Rocket Cress
• Bittercress
• Herb Barbara
• Yellow Rocketcress
• Winter Rocket
• Wound Rocket
• St. Barbara's Herb
• Creasy
• Creecy
• Creesy

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Barbarea vulgaris
• Family: Brassicaceae (also known as Cruciferae or Mustard family)
• Synonyms:
  • Campe barbarea
  • Erysimum barbarea

Considerations for Pets

• The plant is described as very fuzzy, especially the stems and undersides of leaves. This texture might be aversive to some pets.

Considerations for Children

• It is a biennial herb.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Eurasia.
• Widely introduced in North America, especially common throughout New England.
• Can be found in lawns, gardens, along roadsides, and fields.

Ecological Role

• It is an introduced and naturalized invasive biennial forb.
• Often considered a weed.

Morphological Characteristics

• Erect forb that grows from 8 to 30 inches high.
• Dark green stems that branch near the top.
• Elongating rounded clusters of 1/3-inch yellow flowers with 4 petals and 6 stamens.
• Flowers are golden yellow, consisting of petals twice as long as sepals.
• Fruit is a silicle, oblong-linear, rounded-tetrahedral, with a short structure.
• The seedling stem (hypocotyl) is red and smooth.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The leaves of Garden Yellow Rocket are said to have natural insect resistance.
• Often confused with wild mustard.

Quirky Facts

• The leaves can be pickled and taste like olives.
• Yellow Rocket was cultivated in England as an early salad vegetable.